Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Know You From Old , by Steve Howell & Fats Kaplin and it's a great set of folk and blues tunes. Opening with Black Dog , a Kentucky Rag recorded by Bayless Rose features Steve Howell on vocal and guitar and Fats Kaplin on banjo. Excellent opener. Bugger Burns is a cool track recorded by John Lomax back in 1941. Howell on vocal and guitar with Kaplin on mandolin this is a very spry number. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues , made popular by Doc Watson fits this set nicely with Howell on vocal and guitar and honest fiddle harmony by Kaplin. Burl Ives ' The Escape of Old John Webb about a jailbreak in 1730. A great story and some of Howell's vocals paired with Kaplin's fiddle makes for a great add. Shawneetown is a rich, folk track and Howell sings wide open with minimal guitar rhythm and excellent fiddle work by Kaplin. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a solid arrangement of Ellington's Mood Indigo ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 99 1/2 Won't Do , from Steve Howell & The  Mighty Men and it's a cool, stripped down blues rocker. Opening with I'm A Little Mixed Up , Steve Howell keeps the rocking feel of the James/Johnson composition but ads his own flavor. Leading on vocal and guitar and backed by Chris Michaels on guitar, Dave Hoffpauir drums and Jason Weinheimer on bass and keys. Nina Simone's Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood is covered instrumentally, led by Howell on guitar melody. Traditional blues, God's Gonna Cut You Down , is my favorite on the release with a Hot Tuna or Gary Davis feel. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Apache made popular by The Shadows and The Ventures. With it's solitude guitar melody and reverb, it's a cool closer.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Face...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gallery of Echoes , from Steve Howell and it's a traditional look at traditional blues. Opening with Blind Lemon Jefferson's Stocking Feet Blues , with Howell on vocal and guitar. Howell's vocal style is ideal for this music and his picking style, steady and clean. On Blind Willie McTell's Statesboro Blues , only true blues aficionados are likely to have heard this highly popularized track, stripped down to this acoustic version. Very nice.  All My Friends Are Gone is a somber track and a strong addition to this release. Howell's vocals are sincere and his playing sensitive. Gary Davis', Sit Down On The Banks Of The River is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a great vocal delivery and fluid guitar work. Wrapping the release is Dallas Rag , a cool little guitar ditty giving Howell a cool closer for a solid acoustic blues release.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Volume 3  from Blind Racoon Nola Blue Collection and it's chocked full of tasty tracks. Opening with Time To Forget You , from Willie Bo Walker and Danny Flam , a slow paced blues track with screaming slide and fat horns is always a great start. John Nemeth 's contribution, I Can See Your Love Shine , has a cool modified reggae beat with some tasty guitar and harp work with a poppy feel. Clarence Spady 's, Surrender is a warm, slow blues with cool, soulful vocals, tight, nicely phrased guitar riffs and crystal clear piano. Laura Tate 's I Need A Man , features solid vocals and with punchy horns and snappy drums, and really nice piano work, commands attention. CD Woodbury performs classic, Can't Eat That Stuff No More , with plenty of humor and spunk. Dudley Taft blends blues and rock for The End Of The Blues , with his own stylistic boogie rock and rock guitar styling. Rocker, Memphis Hotline , is Bri...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Ago, from Steve Howell, Dan Sumner & Jason Weinheimer and the title aptly describes the musical journey. Opening with 20's song, Singin' The Blues, Howell on lead vocal and guitar, backed by bassist Jason Weinheimer and with the addition on lush jazz chords and runs by Dan Sumner sets the stage for this easy paced release. Jobim's Dindi has a real nice arrangement with Howell and Sumner playing guitar runs over a Bossa Nova backing. Very nice. Johnny Mercer's ballad, I Thought About You, gets a finger picked overlay by Howell giving it a bit of a country styling but the warm chords of Sumner maintains the jazz richness under Howell's understated vocals. Another jazz standard with  Bossa beat is I'll Remember April and the beauty of the melody is enhanced by the poise of Howell, Weinheimer and Sumner on this instrumental remake. Horace Silver's Song For My Father is another jazz track ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, History Rhymes , from Steve Howell & Jason Weinheimer and it a cool acoustic blues feast. Opening with There'll Be Some Changes Made . an early jazz (blues) style with excellent finger picking by Howell who also sings, with Wenheimer on bass. Very cool. On Blind Lemon Jefferson's Shuckin' Sugar , Howell lays down a basic boogie guitar line with Weinheimer and sets it afloat. Jack Of Diamonds , a traditional folk tune has a really great feel and with the addition of David Dodson on mandolin is a terrific song a features some of Howell's best vocals on the release.  Another terrific track and a known fiddle tune, Frosty Morn , has terrific instrumental traction with Howell, Weinheimenr, and Dodson. Excellent. The richness of Don Sumner's archtop shines through on I Got A Right To Sing The Blues , as he plays a nice guitar duet with Howell, backed by  Weinheimer on bass. Howell's vocals are sol...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,  A Hundred Years From Today , by Steve Howell & Jason Weinheimer , and it's quiet and soothing. Opening with Fats Waller's Lulu's back In Town , Howell shows his clean acoustic finger work and holds down lead vocal while Weinheimer is on bass. Rag style Kansas City Blues has smooth flow and nice tempo. Lightning Hopkins' Going Back To Florida is somber and bluesy with solid vocal emphasis staid guitar accompaniment. Mississippi John Hurt's Louis Collins has super tempo and tight guitar riffs. Blues standard, Basin Street Blues , has an easy pace and nicely articulated guitar lead. Limehouse Blues / After You're Gone has a 20's sound with springy pace and light vocals. Wrapping the release is Hoagy Carmichael's Rocking Chair with a light jazzy sound. Nicely presented chords and lightly peppered fingering by both men make this a cool closer for this release.    If you suppor...

I just received the newest release, Yes, I Believe I Will from Steve Howell and it is really hauntingly good. The release opens with I Had A Notion , a simple acoustic country rocker not unlike contemporary Eric Clapton on JJ Cale tracks. Walk On Boy is a cool track written by Mel Tillis and long covered by Doc Watson having a distinctive Hot Tuna/ Gary Davis sound. Very cool. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning has long been one of my favorite acoustic blues with spiritual overtones. I was first introduced to this track on the first Hot Tuna release and it has always stuck with me. Howell, who plays most of the acoustic guitar on this release is joined by Chris Michaels on electric guitar on this track and he adds some really cool riffs that are almost unworldly in tone. Love it! Another real eerie sounding track, Country Blues originally written by Dock Boggs is performed here with a lot of authenticity and feeling. There is a real humble but warm feel conveyed by this type of ...

Born in Marshall, Texas, Steve lived in Kilgore, Texas, until the age of seventeen, when his family moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. Upon Steve's graduation from Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, he lived in Dallas, Arlington, Austin, and spent some time in Pennsylvania during 1972-1973. Late 1973 brought the beginning of a hitch in the U.S. Navy which took him to Key West, Florida, and then to Havorfordwest, South Wales, for 3 1/2 years. During this time, he played folk clubs in South Wales, as well as in the South of England with his partner, fingerstyle and slide guitarist and mandolinist, Arnie Cottrell. They also played several folk music gatherings including the Pembroke Castle Folk Festival in the spring of 1976. Upon his return to the United States in 1977 and his return to Shreveport, Louisiana, he attended Louisiana State University in Shreveport and graduated in 1980 with a degree in Communications. During this time he played on the Shreveport club scene through t...